When the Queen said last June that she wanted low- key golden jubilee celebrations this summer to commemorate her 50th anniversary on the throne, she probably did not anticipate panic at the palace over the lack of street parties nearly five months in advance of events.

An apparent lack of preparations in communities has led to pressure on local authorities to ease red tape restrictions which could place a damper on events. Some authorities are threatening to charge streets up to £800 to impose traffic restrictions and insurance companies want £150 premiums against liability risks.

The palace acted yesterday to clarify the situation on its website and suggested that these restrictions would be unnecessary. The website speaks of a "vision" uniting local communities, saying the jubilee "provides a unique opportunity to celebrate a significant achievement of 50 years as monarch".

But it bears a forlorn look. So far it lists a golden jubilee snooker and pool tournament in Plymouth, the planting of an oak in the village of Oxhill, Warwickshire, the planting of a jubilee garden at Cranmore infants' school in Shirley, Birmingham, the placing of small fountains all over London - and precious little else.

Buckingham Palace though expressed itself baffled that the media is shocked that, with 19 weeks still to go and Britain in the middle of winter, street parties and other events are not already organised.

The focus of the jubilee will be the first weekend in June - which will have two bank holidays added to it - with a pop concert in the grounds of the palace, a thanksgiving service at St Paul's cathedral and a carnival in the Mall. Street parties, much photographed with their trestle ta bles, jelly and paper hats during earlier royal celebrations, may appear old-fashioned but they still seem to be the litmus test of loyalty.

The royal website offers pages of advice for organisers of local events ranging from how to build a bonfire to the regulations for music and dancing licences. It suggests that events in local authority parks will be covered by councils' existing insurance but insists that organisers will need public liability insurance and should consider taking out a bad weather policy as well.

It says caterers will need food hygiene certificates, the sale of alcohol will require a licence and the emergency services will also have to be informed.

Publicity about the celebrations being under threat caught the palace off guard. The Sun has already launched a Save the Jubilee campaign, suggesting "Have a Bash for Her Maj".

One official engaged in organising the jubilee said: "I think it's pretty damned early. I really don't know at all what shape the celebrations are going to take.

"Things have changed a lot since the last jubilee in 1977. I am sure my sons will be much keener to see one of the concerts relayed on big screens in Hyde Park than going to a street party - and those sorts of things weren't available 25 years ago.

"We really do not see this as a barometer on the popularity of the monarchy. Events will be based on how people feel at the time, what's on the television, what the weather's like, whether England has been knocked out of the World Cup - we are entirely philosophical."

But officials were forced to deny one report that Lord Levene of Portsoken, a former lord mayor of London and adviser to Tony Blair, had resigned in June last year because of his concerns about the way the organisation of the jubilee was going. His place was taken by the shipping magnate Lord Sterling, who was also involved in organising the Queen's silver jubilee in 1977. Lord Levene told the Guardian: "When I gave up doing the job last summer I said I was not going to comment and I am not going to start now." Lord Sterling told Radio 4's The World at One yesterday: "The way things are going at the moment is particularly pleasurable. I think we have an excellent team."

An opinion poll earlier this week found only 5% believing the jubilee would have the greatest impact on the national mood this year, compared with 26% who thought winning the World Cup would have a greater bearing.

The palace official said: "Insurance liability and traffic restrictions are matters for local authorities. I would be very surprised if most do levy charges or insist on paid-for notices publicising street closures in the local press. Governments feel the need to spell these things out in great detail. We are not quibbling on policy issues. We will absolutely not be approaching the government to subsidise this in any way."

Main events February 6: 50th anniversary of Queen's accession to throne on death of George VI will be spent quietly, as usual, at Sandringham

February 18-March 4: Commonwealth tour to Jamaica, New Zealand and Australia

May 1: Three-month tour of Britain begins in west country

June 1-4: Jubilee weekend with two bank holidays, coinciding with England's World Cup launch. Classical and pop concerts at Buckingham Palace, thanksgiving service at St Paul's, carnival in Mall, mass beacon lightings across country ... and street parties?

July 9: Buckingham Palace party for all those born on February 6 1952.